Carry Bag with Retractable Umbrella

ABSTRACT

A carry bag with retractable umbrella is a carry bag with a divider panel dividing the space inside said bag into a main compartment and an umbrella compartment. An umbrella with a retractable means or reel is stored in the umbrella compartment. The umbrella is connected to the reel by a connecting means or cord. The reel is biased towards pulling the cord and umbrella inside the umbrella compartment. The user pulls the umbrella and the cord out of the compartment to a particular length of travel suitable to the user. The user allows the reel to pull the umbrella back into the umbrella compartment when the umbrella is not in use.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/991,618 filed on May 12, 2014 by the present inventor, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not Applicable

REFERENCE TO SEQUENCE LISTING, A TABLE, OR A COMPUTER PROGRAM LISTING COMPACT DISK APPENDIX

Not Applicable

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates generally to the field of hand carried cases or bags. More particularly, the invention relates to a bag that is adapted to organize and securely carry an umbrella.

2. Description of the Related Art

A common problem for pedestrians in areas prone to inclement weather is storing their umbrella when not in use. It is not practical to store a wet umbrella in a bag with other contents since the contents will get wet. Carrying a wet umbrella around is awkward. Another problem is misplacing the umbrella when not in use. Users that frequently use their umbrella often misplace their umbrella by leaving it at the park, coffee shop, office, or other setting. There are many different solutions for storing an umbrella, but none account for misplacement and none account for a dedicated umbrella storage compartment inside the carry bag. There remains a need for enabling a user to properly store an umbrella such that other bag contents do not get wet, and misplacement is not an issue.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A carry bag with retractable umbrella is provided with two compartments, the main compartment stores miscellaneous items such as wallets, keys, notepads, books, and the like. The umbrella compartment stores an umbrella that is pulled inside the bag by a connecting means and a retracting means to keep the umbrella from being misplaced when not in use.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Referring now to the drawings in which like reference numbers represent corresponding parts throughout:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the umbrella, connecting means, and bag with the connecting means in the extended position according to the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the umbrella, connecting means, and bag with the cord in the partially retracted position according to the present invention; and

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the umbrella, connecting means, and bag with a user according to the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention will now be described more fully hereinafter, in which preferred embodiments of the invention are shown. This invention may, however, be embodied in different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein. Rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the scope of the invention to those skilled in the art. In the drawings, like numbers refer to like elements throughout.

The carry bag with retractable umbrella 10 comprises a bag 20, umbrella 30, and a connecting means 80. The connecting means 80 connects the umbrella 30 to the bag 20. The bag 20 is comprised of a carrying means 110, front wall 120, rear wall 100, bottom wall 145, retractable flap 90, fastener 190, retracting means 180, lower zipper 150, upper zipper 160, cushion 135, and divider panel 125. The divider panel 125 divides the space inside the bag 20 into a main compartment 115 and an umbrella compartment 130.

The bag 20 may be constructed of a waterproof material which prevents leaking. The material may be decoratively imprinted and textured. Different materials such as fabrics, natural or synthetic, or the like may be used in the construction of the bag 20. The bag 20 may be decorated with embroidery, lace, or any other decoration, including names or initials.

The umbrella 30 is comprised of a canopy 40, support arms 50, shaft 60, and handle 70. The handle 70 connects the umbrella 30 to the bag 20 with the connecting means 80. The connecting means 80 is attached to the retracting means 180 mounted inside the umbrella compartment 130. The retracting means 180 may be a reel, wheel, spinner, or any other device for retracting and tensioning the connecting means 80. The connecting means 80 may be a cord, strap, wire, cable, rope, or any other flexible material suitable to connect to the retracting means 180. The retracting means 180 is securely attached to a surface inside the umbrella compartment 130. The retracting means 180 is sufficiently large enough to contain the entire length of connecting means 80, and the retracting means 180 is securely attached to a surface inside the umbrella compartment 130. The retracting means 180 is securely attached inside the umbrella compartment by sewing, gluing, taping, fastening, or any other secure means. The retracting means 180 contains an internal device biased against outward rotation to provide tension to retrieve the connecting means 80 into the umbrella compartment 130. The internal device may be a spring, elastic ban, or any other device to pull the connecting means 80 inside the umbrella compartment 130. As an alternate embodiment of the invention, the retracting means 180 is provided with automatic catches to hold the connecting means 80 at any particular length of travel at the option of the user without placing tension on the connecting means 80.

The carrying means 110 are attached to the front 120 and real walls 100 of the bag 20. The carrying means 110 may be straps, ropes, wire, cable, chain, or any other suitable material for carrying and supporting the weight of the bag 20. An upper zipper 160 is attached to the front wall 120 of the bag 20, and opens into a pocket inside the front wall 120. The umbrella compartment 130 opens to the outside through the retractable flap 90. When the umbrella 30 is not in use, the retractable flap 90 is closed and secured shut by a fastener 190 device mounted on the flap 90 and on the bag 20. The lower zipper 150 opens the bottom wall 145 of the bag 20 to provide alternate access to the umbrella compartment 130. The bottom wall 145 facing the umbrella compartment 130 is lined with a cushion 135 to absorb any moisture accumulated on the umbrella 30.

In use, removing the umbrella 30 is effected by loosening the fastener 190 and opening the retractable flap 90 and pulling the umbrella 30 out of the umbrella compartment 130. The umbrella 30 is pulled away from the bag 20 with tension on the connecting means 80. The tension is provided by the retracting means 180 which is biased towards pulling the connecting means 80 inside the umbrella compartment 130. There may be catches provided within the retracting means 180 to hold the connecting means 80 at a particular length of travel for the user. Storing the umbrella 30 after use is effected by the user pulling on the connecting means 80 to release the automatic catches within the retracting means 180 and allowing the retracting means 180 to retract the connecting means 80. After the umbrella is completely inside the umbrella compartment 130, the user closes the retractable flap 90 and secures the flap 90 with the fastener 190 device.

The foregoing is illustrative of the present invention and is not to be construed as limiting thereof. Although exemplary embodiments of this invention have been described, those skilled in the art will readily appreciate that many modifications are possible in the exemplary embodiments without materially departing from the novel teachings and advantages of this invention. Accordingly, all such modifications are intended to be included within the scope of this invention as defined in the claims. 

I claim:
 1. A carry bag comprising: a) a bag having a front wall, rear wall, bottom wall, divider panel, and retractable flap; wherein said divider panel divides said bag into a main compartment and an umbrella compartment b) an umbrella and retractable means inside said umbrella compartment; and c) a connecting means attached to said retractable means on one end and said umbrella on the opposite end.
 2. A carry bag as claimed in claim 1, wherein said retractable means comprises a reel, wheel, or spinner.
 3. A carry bag as claimed in claim 1, wherein said connecting means comprises a cord, strap, wire, cable, or rope.
 4. A carry bag as claimed in claim 1, wherein said retractable means comprises an internal device biased against outward rotation.
 5. A carry bag as claimed in claim 1, wherein said bottom wall facing the umbrella compartment is lined with a cushion.
 6. A carry bag comprising: a) a bag having a carrying means, a front wall, a rear wall, a bottom wall, a retractable flap with a fastener, a divider panel dividing the space inside said bag into a main compartment and an umbrella compartment, a lower zipper surrounding said umbrella compartment, an upper zipper on said front wall opening into a pocket; b) an umbrella and retractable means inside said umbrella compartment with said retractable means securely attached to a surface inside said umbrella compartment, and said retractable means biased against outward rotation; and c) a connecting means attached to said reel on one end and said umbrella on the opposite end.
 7. A carry bag as claimed in claim 6, wherein said retractable means comprises a reel, a wheel, or a spinner.
 8. A carry bag as claimed in claim 6, wherein said connecting means comprises a cord, a strap, a wire, a cable, or a rope.
 9. A carry bag as claimed in claim 6, wherein said carrying means comprises a strap, a rope, a wire, a cable, or a chain.
 10. A carry bag as claimed in claim 6, wherein said bottom wall facing said umbrella compartment is lined with a cushion.
 11. A method of storing an umbrella in a carry bag comprising: a) providing a bag having an umbrella compartment, an umbrella, a retractable flap, a retracting means, and a connecting means; b) opening said retractable flap; c) pulling said umbrella and said connecting means out of said umbrella compartment to a particular length of travel for the user; d) tensioning said connecting means with said retracting means which is biased towards pulling said connecting means inside said umbrella compartment; e) allowing said retracting means to pull said umbrella and said connecting means inside said umbrella compartment; and f) closing said retractable flap. 